RoadVitals

2002 Kia Sportage Steering Problems

Owner-reported complaints naming the steering system, filed with NHTSA

Data refreshed

Steering reportsComplaints are reports submitted to NHTSA by owners and drivers. NHTSA does not verify most reports before publishing them, and a complaint does not establish that a defect exists. Volume is influenced by how many of a vehicle were sold, how long it has been on the road, and how much attention an issue has received.
9
Latest Jun 29, 2014
Share of all reportsThis category as a share of every owner report on file for this model year. One report can name more than one component, so the categories overlap.
4%
of 234 total
Crash or fire reportedReports in this category whose submitter recorded that a crash or a fire occurred. The reporter's own answer on the NHTSA form, not a verified finding.
2
Injuries or deaths reportedTotals the submitters entered on their own reports in this category. Not verified by NHTSA and not a casualty statistic.
1

What this page shows

Reports naming the steering system — racks, columns, power-steering assist and steering linkage. Every record below is an owner-reported complaint about the 2002 Kia Sportage submitted to NHTSA — not a confirmed defect, not a recall and not a manufacturer bulletin. 9 reports on file name it.

Complaints are reports submitted by owners and drivers to NHTSA. They are not verified and do not establish that a defect exists.

Owner reports naming steering

Shown in the owner’s own words, exactly as filed

AirbagsSteeringSuspension
Filed Jun 29, 2014
Crash reported

TRAVELING POSTED SPEED LIMIT , CAR BEGAN TO SKID. MADE A SLIGHT TURN OF STEERING WHEEL CAR BEGAN TO ROLLOVER TWO OR THREE TIMES. *TR

NHTSA ID
10606743
Incident
Jun 16, 2014
EngineSteering
Filed Sep 28, 2010

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 KIA SPORTAGE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHENEVER HE DROVE, THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT ILLUMINATED ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A LOCAL REPAIR SHOP WHERE THE THERMOSTAT WAS REPLACED. THE FAILURE CONTINUED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER WHERE THE RADIATOR WAS REPLACED. HOWEVER, THE FAILURE CONTINUED. ALSO, WHILE TRAVELING APPROXIMATELY 35 MPH, THE CONTACT NOTICED THAT THE POWER STEERING MALFUNCTIONED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHERE THE FAN BELT WAS REPLACED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 68,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 78,000.

NHTSA ID
10358020
Incident
Jun 8, 2010
Mileage
68,000 mi
AirbagsSteering
Filed Aug 22, 2004
Crash reported1 injury reported

WHILE DRIVING ON A STRAIGHT STRETCH OF HIGHWAY MY DAUGHTER FELT HER CAR JERK TO THE RIGHT. SHE ATTEMPTED TO TURN INTO THE JERK AND WAS NOT ABLE TO CONTROL ANYTHING ON THE CAR. IT BEGAN TO ROCK DESPITE HER EFFORTS AND THEN IMMEDIATELY ROLLED OVER MULTIPLE TIMES. THE FRONT END OF HER KIA SPORTAGE SUSTAINED CONSIDERABLE DAMAGE, THE AIRBAGS DID NOT DEPLOY AND SHE SUFFERED ALMOST COMPLETE LOSS OF USE OF HER LEFT ARM. SHE IS STILL UNDERGOING TREATMENT AND THERAPY FOR THE INJURY AND ALSO WILL PROBABLY HAVE TO HAVE FURTHER SURGERY. THERE WERE WITNESSES BEHIND HER THAT REPORTED THAT THE CAR WAS GOING STRAIGHT, DID NOT RUN OFF THE ROAD JUST BEGAN TO FLIP. SHE DID NOT LOSE CONSCIENCE, DID NOT LOOK AWAY FROM THE ROAD. ALSO THE DRIVING CONDITIONS WERE NORMAL AND SHE WAS GOING 5 MILES UNDER THE SPEED LIMIT. WE REQUESTED THAT THE INSURANCE COMPANY INVESTIGATE BUT THEY STATED THEY DO NOT DO INVESTIGATIONS. WE REALLY BELIEVE THAT THERE WAS A STEERING MALFUNCTION AS WELL AS FAILURE ON THE AIRBAGS. *JB

NHTSA ID
10088370
Incident
Jul 1, 2004
BrakesEngineOther / unspecified+2 more
Filed Jan 15, 2004

2002 KIA SPORTAGE.*MR (NAR) FIRST OIL CHANGE, FILTER REPLACEMENT, LUBE, RATTLING NOISE UNDER STEERING WHEEL, SLUGGISH TRANSMISSION SHIFTING AND EXCESSIVE BRAKE RESIDUE ON RIGHT FRONT WHEEL. *CB

NHTSA ID
10054145
Incident
Dec 31, 2002
Mileage
2,380 mi
Powertrain (other)Steering
Filed Mar 28, 2003

THE GEARS SHIFTED IMPROPERLY AND THERE WAS A RATTLING NOISE COMING FROM UNDER THE VEHICLE. CONSUMER WAS INFORMED THE TRANSMISSION NEEDED TO BE REPLACED, ALSO THE DEALER NOTICED THE STEERING GEAR BOX WAS LEAKING. *JB

NHTSA ID
10014706
Incident
Mar 9, 2003
Mileage
98,000 mi
Steering
Filed Jan 7, 2003

CONSUMER STATED WHILE DRIVING THE VEHICLE SPENT OUT OF CONTROL, SHE ALSO STATED THAT THE STEERING WHEEL WAS SHAKING REALLY BAD. TS

NHTSA ID
10002236
Steering
Filed Dec 28, 2002

THE STEERING BOX IN MY 2002 KIA SPORTAGE SUDDENLY BECOME INOPERABLE AND WOULD NOT PERMIT THE CAR TO BE STEERED TO THE RIGHT. IT HAPPENED WHILE I WAS DRIVING AND I NEARLY HAD AN ACCIDENT BEFORE I COULD GET IT STOPPED.

NHTSA ID
10000627
Incident
Dec 22, 2002
Mileage
27,000 mi
Steering
Filed Aug 20, 2002

STEERING HAS EXCESSIVE PLAY. KIA REPRESENTATIVES STATE " ALL SPORTAGES ARE LIKE THAT AND THEY WILL NOT FIX."*AK

NHTSA ID
765938
Incident
Jul 20, 2002
Body & structureElectricalSteering+1 more
Filed Mar 13, 2002

DOOR STAYS AJAR. MECHANIC TOLD CONSUMER THAT DOOR IS NOT OFF LINE, YET DOOR DOES NOT CLOSE PROPERLY.*AK NOW HORN HAS FAILED, SECURITY ALARM SYSTEM ACTS ERRATICLY, THE RIGHT SIDE HOOD IF OFFLINE AND IS BENT CAUSING THE HOOD TO INTRUDE OUTWARD TOWARDS THE FRONT FENDER, AND THE DRIVER SIDE BACK WINDOW WILL NOT MOVE UP OR DOWN. *TT

NHTSA ID
8005631
Incident
Feb 27, 2002

Higher-selling and older vehicles accumulate more reports. Counts are not failure rates and are not directly comparable between vehicles that sold in very different numbers.

Other components reported on this vehicle

Categories with enough reports to have a page of their own

Elsewhere on this vehicle

Data sources

Data on this page last refreshed .